Gerro's back in business

I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on football.

Steven Gerrard

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Gerrard turned out for a Liverpool reserve team against Tranmere just hours after being cleared over his part in a bar-room brawl.

And 10 minutes after the break he produced a trademark long-range effort to find the back of the net at Prenton Park.

Gerrard was booed at times during the 2-2 draw with Tranmere – now managed by former Liverpool favourite John Barnes.

It was his first run-out of the pre-season having missed the club’s tour to the Far East to appear at Liverpool Crown Court over the past week. His team-mates reacted with joy when they heard the news that their captain had been acquitted yesterday.

They stopped a training session in Singapore to link arms and cheer – and were joined by celebrations from hundreds of supporters watching the session who began to sing Gerrard’s name.

And Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez spoke of his joy that the England midfielder was now free to concentrate on preparing for the new season.

Benoitez said: “We are really pleased. He is very important for us and he can now focus just on football.

“Now he can concentrate just on football and hopefully play at the same level as last year.”

Gerrard spoke of his relief outside the court following his four-day trial. He had denied affray but admitted hitting Marcus McGee, 34, in self-defence.

He was the only one of seven defendants to be acquitted over the “explosion of violence” at the Lounge Inn bar in Southport, Merseyside, during which Mr McGee lost a tooth and suffered facial cuts.

Gerrard said: “I’d like to put this case behind me. I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on football.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to my legal team, my friends and family and to everyone at Liverpool Football Club for supporting me.”

Liverpool’s £17m new boy Glen Johnson is a worry for Benitez in the build-up to the new season after missing training in Singapore yesterday.

An Achilles problem has hampered Johnson during their pre-season campaign and he is a doubt for tomorrow’s match against Singapore.

There was brighter news about Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun, who returned to full training after missing Wednesday’s game in Bangkok with ankle problems.